Ethel Vaughan-Sawyer

In 1897, Vaughan became assistant medical officer to Camberwell Infirmary.^[1] She subsequently became curator of the Royal Free Hospital's museum, and in 1899 clinical assistant to physician Raymond Crawfurd.^[1] In 1901, she spent time in Paris with fellow physician Louisa Garrett Anderson, visiting French hospitals.^[1]

By that year, Vaughan had established a private practice from her home in Brompton Square, South Kensington, alongside her friend Dr. Kate Marion Hunter.^[1] When, a year later, Mary Scharlieb was appointed physician for the diseases of women at the Royal Free Hospital, Vaughan was made her assistant.^[1] Scharlieb described Vaughan as both "a great pleasure to work with" and "one of the best and most skilful surgeons of the next generation".^[1]

On Scharlieb's retirement in 1908, Vaughan took over, assisted by Florence Willey.^[1] Vaughan also lectured at her alma mater, the London School of Medicine for Women.^[1] Following the birth of her daughter in August 1908, Vaughan (now Vaughan-Sawyer) returned to the operating table in November proving, as Claire Brock has written, "that medical women were more than capable of combining the roles of surgeon, wife, and mother."^[1] At the Royal Free Hospital, Vaughan's surgical skill was evident, as was her interest in new and developing surgeries, detailed in her case notes.^[1][6] Vaughan-Sawyer also retained a private practice in Harley Street, and was actively involved in both the Royal Society of Medicine's obstetric and gynaecological division, and the Association of Registered Medical Women.^[1] She lectured widely, and was a member of the Fabian Women's Group.^[1]

In 1920, Vaughan-Sawyer was part of a committee seeking to establish scholarships for Serbian women to train in medicine at the Royal Free Hospital.^[7]

Vaughan-Sawyer remained at the Royal Free Hospital until 1926, when her eyesight began to fail and she retired from her post.^[1] Two years later, she became the Royal Free Hospital's consulting gynaecologist.^[1]

Vaughan-Sawyer died on 9 March 1949 in hospital in Northwood, Middlesex, having lived for two years in St John's Guest House for the Blind in Worthing.^[1] On her death, a correspondent to The Times described her as having spoken of all the "calamities" of her life - and everything else - "with robust humour and a philosophy that had its roots in her deep and living faith."^[8] Her obituary in the same paper remembered her as "for many years a noted gynaecologist and obstetrician".^[9] An obituary was also published the British Medical Journal.^[3]

Ethel Vaughan-Sawyer's case notes are held by the London Metropolitan Archives.^[10]